Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-23
IfOgarth's Pictures.
fNinetoenth Century.l

Hogarth was so little thought of in
his day, except 10y few such admirers
as David Garrick and Mr.. Lane, that
he could not find purchasers Of his pic
lures, and as there Was no place Of e.
hbition but the sign-painters' market
in Harp Alley, Shoe Lane, which he
was above rosorting to, he invented q
sort of auction of his own, and also
raffled some Of his works. 1t was adj
vertised in the London Ddiy Post
that this auction would take
place at the Golden Head, Lei
cester Fields. This was his own
house, over the door Of which he
placed q bust of Vandyck cut out
Of pieces of cork by himself and gilt.
The biddings were not oral, but enter
ed in book opposite each picture,
with the price offered, and the name OF
the bidder. On the day OF the sale he
requested, as his room was small, that
no one would come but the bidders,
and the sale was to be managed by a
clock that struck every five minutes.
When this clock, which acted like the
hammered anauctionee struck Mt 1905,
the first picture was sold. Then the
next followed in five minutes, and so
on with tie whole. The set OF six,
1.-THE Harlot's Progress, sold for II
guiucas each (GSS 4s) "The Rake's
Progress" eig1t, at % guineas, (eiSi
1Gs.) These were bought by Alderman
Beckford, the father Of Vathek Beck
ford but four Of "The .Harlot's Pro
press we're lost when Fouthil Abbey
was burned in 1855; the remaining two
were sold at Christie's in 1873 in the
Munro sale for Gj4G. Alderman Beck
ford sold "Ihe Rake's Progress set
at Cbrstie's to Sir John Soane in
1902 for G59S los, and they are
in the museum in Lincoln's Inn
Fields. Here, too. are the set OF
four, "Thc Election" which Sir
John Soane bought at Chnstie's i'll
1923, at the sale Of David Garrick's e.
fccts by the widow after his death, for
Il. 1872 JOS. 1t was this set that Ho-
garth ratified at two guincas the chance,
but, though few subscribers put down
their names. they cared SO little about
the pictures that on the day named no
one came but Garrick, probably the
busiest man i'll London. Hogarth was
angry at this Slight, and GdrIick
refused to throw the dice alone,
but yielded at last, and went
through the formality Of cast
ing, and of course, the pictures We're
then sold at the price OF his chance.
but Carr.ck had too much sympathy
for the painter AMI tco generous a
shirt t. allow such n bargain to be
struck lie hurried home and wrote q
note to Hocaith, saying he could not
allow himself TO possess works OF such
vulue and which he admired 50 much
without acQui,ting his conscience OF the
obligation be felt due to the painter,
and therefore he chad placed to his
credit at his bankers 200 gui-
meas. which would remaia there at
the disposal of bis heirs if 1t were
not accepted by himself. Garrick knew
Ho-aIth was so proud that he would
have sent back n check. Poor Hogarth
had 10 endure The same modification al
tie ncglcct of far finer set of his
works. the " Marriage & IA Mode, at his
auction in 1850. lie had these framed
in fine "Carlo Maratti frames at a
cost Of four Puincas each, but even thi;
decoration did not attract the bud
dcrs on the day OF sale and It would
seem that only one did actually
attend, as call pcture-dealers" were
licidly excluded, and this was Mr.
lam. lie WAS too liberal to take adj
vantage Of this, aud he proposed to eX
tend the time for an hour, while he
would raise lis bid from el2O t(
cnineas; but no one else came, anC
| Hogarth then proudly said: Sir,
wish YOU Joy of your purchase, anc
! hope it is an agreeable one.
He begged one promise, whlcl
was that his pictures might ncvel
lie touched by the "cleaners
and never be sold without his know
LEDGE. Mr.. Lane accordingly refused
al Offers made, and bequeathed tn
pictures To- bis nephew, Colonel Cav
ihorne. This gentleman had them pm
no at Christie's in 1892, where the
were thought in at 1855 los, AM
again in 1926 probably at lower sum
Tnt in the mex. year they were Offered
at Christic's and bought 10y Mr.. j. j
Angerstein for el,05O.